Abstract
This poster describes the separation of a pair of conjoined twins, aged 3 months. They were joined at the pelvis, shared a common hindgut and each had bladder exstrophy. The operation to separate them, done over a weekend, involved paired teams of anaesthetists, Paediatric Surgeons and Paediatric Urologists and one Orthopaedic Surgeon.
The surgeons mobilised and divided the hindgut, giving one twin the distal half and the other the caecum and proximal colon. Two Urologists reconstructed the bladder exstrophies.
The orthopaedic contribution was bilateral oblique pelvic osteotomy to allow midline closure, along with extensive hip releases to deal with severe flexion and abduction contractures.
Both twins survived and are thriving. They have little neurological impairment in the lower limbs and therefore have great potential to walk.
Local Host: British Society for Children’s Orthopaedic Surgery. Conference Theme: Congenital Deficiencies of the Lower Limb. These abstracts were prepared by A.Catterall.
